logo
Removal of council bins has increased rubbish

Removal of council bins has increased rubbish

RNZ News21-05-2025

life and society about 1 hour ago
As of May last year Auckland Council had removed more than 2300 public rubbish bins as a cost cutting measure. Auckland Council's website describes Musick Point as an 8 hectare reserve near Buckland's Beach, with spectacular views over the Hauraki Gulf. But locals are concerned the vista is being blighted by an increase in rubbish dumped around the reserve, a problem they believe is linked to a lack of bins. Liz Domett spoke to Lisa Owen.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Resident Battles Auckland Council's ‘Ridiculous' Choice Of Berm Tree Criticised
Resident Battles Auckland Council's ‘Ridiculous' Choice Of Berm Tree Criticised

Scoop

time4 hours ago

  • Scoop

Resident Battles Auckland Council's ‘Ridiculous' Choice Of Berm Tree Criticised

Article – Torika Tokalau – Local Democracy Reporter An Auckland resident says authorities need to carefully consider the trees they plant on berms after her complaints of a leafy liquidamber planted outside her home fell on deaf ears. Papakura resident Sarah Thompson said she was surprised when she found that Auckland Council had planted a dwarf version of a liquidamber on her berm last month. A berm is the grassed area that sits between the road and either the footpath or the property boundary. Thompson was concerned about how big tree would grow. 'You could hardly pick a more ridiculous tree to plant on a berm,' Thompson said. 'They've planted them on alternate berms all down the street, and they said they want more shade and I take their point on that. 'But, they've managed to plant one on an incredibly shady berm, it's already got massive trees on there … they haven't thought this through at all.' Liquidambar styraciflua, commonly known as sweetgum, is a tall, fast-growing tree known for its distinctive star-shaped leaves, which change colours in the autumn. When matured, they can reach a height of around 20 metres, with an extensive root system. A dwarf version grows as tall as 3m. Auckland Council says the tree is known for its strong form, vivid autumn colour, and resilience in urban environments. However, Thompson said the trees grow to be huge. 'And it is deciduous with massive leaf fall that will clog the drains.' Thompson and a few of her neighbours wondered why another tree wasn't considered. 'A fruit tree would be nice and provide food for the local community, or a native.' She raised her concerns with council, about the lack of consultation with residents. 'We got a leaflet in our mailbox, on the same day of the planting, and the email address provided didn't work.' Several factors considered Council's Urban Forest, Arboriculture and Ecology manager David Stejskal said tree species for street planting were selected carefully by council urban foresters. Guided by the Auckland Urban Ngahere Strategy and informed by a regional tree palette tailored to local conditions, they considered a range of factors, including space constraints, and the expected long-term performance of the tree, he said. 'While Liquidambar can grow to be a large tree over time, it is valued for its strong form, vivid autumn colour, and resilience in urban environments. 'Where appropriate, council uses smaller cultivars and applies root management techniques such as root barriers to reduce the risk of damage to nearby footpaths and underground infrastructure.' He said the Papakura Local Board, in its Local Board Plan 2023, held concerns that Papakura had low tree canopy cover of only 14 percent. 'Consequently, the Local Board is supporting an increase in the tree canopy through tree planting, especially in streets and parks,' he said. Stejskal said council welcomed community feedback on planting choices, and was happy to assess individual sites where there were specific concerns.

Resident Battles Auckland Council's ‘Ridiculous' Choice Of Berm Tree Criticised
Resident Battles Auckland Council's ‘Ridiculous' Choice Of Berm Tree Criticised

Scoop

time5 hours ago

  • Scoop

Resident Battles Auckland Council's ‘Ridiculous' Choice Of Berm Tree Criticised

An Auckland resident says authorities need to carefully consider the trees they plant on berms after her complaints of a leafy liquidamber planted outside her home fell on deaf ears. Papakura resident Sarah Thompson said she was surprised when she found that Auckland Council had planted a dwarf version of a liquidamber on her berm last month. A berm is the grassed area that sits between the road and either the footpath or the property boundary. Thompson was concerned about how big tree would grow. "You could hardly pick a more ridiculous tree to plant on a berm," Thompson said. "They've planted them on alternate berms all down the street, and they said they want more shade and I take their point on that. "But, they've managed to plant one on an incredibly shady berm, it's already got massive trees on there ... they haven't thought this through at all." Liquidambar styraciflua, commonly known as sweetgum, is a tall, fast-growing tree known for its distinctive star-shaped leaves, which change colours in the autumn. When matured, they can reach a height of around 20 metres, with an extensive root system. A dwarf version grows as tall as 3m. Auckland Council says the tree is known for its strong form, vivid autumn colour, and resilience in urban environments. However, Thompson said the trees grow to be huge. "And it is deciduous with massive leaf fall that will clog the drains." Thompson and a few of her neighbours wondered why another tree wasn't considered. "A fruit tree would be nice and provide food for the local community, or a native." She raised her concerns with council, about the lack of consultation with residents. "We got a leaflet in our mailbox, on the same day of the planting, and the email address provided didn't work." Several factors considered Council's Urban Forest, Arboriculture and Ecology manager David Stejskal said tree species for street planting were selected carefully by council urban foresters. Guided by the Auckland Urban Ngahere Strategy and informed by a regional tree palette tailored to local conditions, they considered a range of factors, including space constraints, and the expected long-term performance of the tree, he said. "While Liquidambar can grow to be a large tree over time, it is valued for its strong form, vivid autumn colour, and resilience in urban environments. "Where appropriate, council uses smaller cultivars and applies root management techniques such as root barriers to reduce the risk of damage to nearby footpaths and underground infrastructure." He said the Papakura Local Board, in its Local Board Plan 2023, held concerns that Papakura had low tree canopy cover of only 14 percent. "Consequently, the Local Board is supporting an increase in the tree canopy through tree planting, especially in streets and parks," he said. Stejskal said council welcomed community feedback on planting choices, and was happy to assess individual sites where there were specific concerns.

Survey finds support for Queenstown Lakes mayor, councillors drops to 17%
Survey finds support for Queenstown Lakes mayor, councillors drops to 17%

RNZ News

time6 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Survey finds support for Queenstown Lakes mayor, councillors drops to 17%

Just 17 percent of respondents felt the council made decisions in the district's best interest. Photo: RNZ / Katie Todd Support for the Queenstown Lakes mayor and councillors dropped to just 17 percent, down from 44 percent a year ago, according to a survey commissioned by the council. The district council's community insights survey results released on Wednesday revealed growing frustration among residents about traffic congestion, increasing tourism and infrastructure pressure. Key Research surveyed 405 people in February and March about the council's leadership, core services and communication. The lowest scoring question in the survey saw just 16 percent of respondents agree the council created long-term solutions and improvements that worked well for them. Just 17 percent of respondents felt the council made decisions in the district's best interest and just 23 percent were satisfied with core services like roading, water and waste. In a statement, the council's acting chief executive Dave Wallace said the feedback reinforced their understanding of community frustration. He said the council was trying to manage unprecedented growth. "QLDC does not hold all the levers, but we must influence and continue to plan for change. How we move forward will be key to a sustainable future," he said. The survey was carried out after the overturning of freedom camping restrictions and around a controversial decision to discharge treated wastewater into the Shotover River. Queenstown Lakes District mayor Glyn Lewers. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi In February councillors were warned that increasing tourist pressures could trigger protests and local hostility if there was not urgent intervention and investment. Residents also expressed dissatisfaction with the council's environmental efforts, with only 29 percent satisfied with efforts to reduce waste to landfill and 19 percent with preparations for climate change. Wallace said the council was trying to understand how to rebuild trust and engagement. "We have been working hard to build on these perceptions and have built our engagement through multiple forums, district-wide, including moving our workshops into the public domain," he said. The council scored well on community facilities, with 79 percent of respondents satisfied with local parks, reserves and gardens, and 85 percent happy with trails, walkways and cycleways. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store